Morrisons Great South Run

Clarence Esplanade in Southsea is transformed into a sea of colour every October, as thousands of runners, walkers and joggers don their charity vests and running kit to set off on the Morrisons Great South Run.

Starting life in Southampton in 1990, it moved to Portsmouth a year later and is now the only 10 mile running event in the world to have achieved IAAF gold label status. Previous athletes who have won the fast and flat 10 mile course include Sonia O’Sullivan, Paula Radcliffe and Mo Farah.

The Course

COURSE MAP

The fast and flat course takes you through Old Portsmouth, home of the Portsmouth Cathedral, before entering the Historic Dockyard. Here you’re granted permission to run past the Royal Navy’s current naval ships, and some of the most famous in the world – including HMS Victory, HMS Warrior and the Mary Rose museum.

After exiting the Dockyard you reach the halfway point on Winston Churchill Avenue, before making your way back towards Southsea Common, where you’ll complete the final two miles on the scenic seafront.

The course is steeped in history dating as far back as 1212 and features charity cheering points, boost zones, bands on the run and unrivalled support from local residents and spectators.

Event location

With the perfect blend of historic and modern sights, there is something for everyone in Portsmouth and Southsea.

If you are looking for things to do in the popular waterfront city, why not take a trip up Spinnaker Tower? At 170 metres high you will experience beautiful views across the Solent to the Isle of Wight. If you prefer to keep your feet on the ground, head for a walk around Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and marvel at HMS Victory and the Mary Rose Museum, which houses Henry VIII’s flagship that sank in 1545.

Travel

The streets around Portsmouth are always busy on Morrisons Great South Run weekend so please use alternative transport if you don’t have to bring your car. The best way to avoid the queues is by leaving the car at home and taking the train. There are a number of train stations around Portsmouth with ample car parking. Services from these stations will get you into the city in plenty of time for the start of the run and you can then walk to the Start and Finish areas. For more information on train services please visit southwesttrains.co.uk

If you are travelling to the run by car then please remember that you don’t have to park at the official event parking on Southsea Common. As you come into the city from the motorway look out for the large digital information boards giving you real-time parking and traffic information. These screens will advise on the queuing time to the Southsea Common parking and provide directions to the nearest city centre car park to allow you to make an informed choice about where you are going to park.

There are hundreds of parking spaces within a 15 minute walk of the main event site in car parks around Portsmouth. It’s worth noting that the majority of the city centre car parks are away from the main road closures and as such will allow you to exit the city without as much of a delay after you have finished your run.

If you are looking to make a bit of a day of it and are in no rush to get away then use the parking on Southsea Common. Please note that there is a charge of £5 to park on the Common – parking in the city centre varies in price.

Accommodation

Why not make a weekend of it and avoid the rush and the queues on Saturday morning by staying in Portsmouth overnight? For more information visit visitportsmouth.co.uk Nirvana Europe also offer a variety of combined hotel and travel packages. Please visit nirvanaeurope.com for more information.